The Rise and Progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 366.1 T34r I.H.S. THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY IN ILLINOIS 1783-1952 By EVERETT R. TURNBULL Past Master, Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76 1952 The Most Worshipful Chanel Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ilhnois COPYRIGHT 1952 THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Printed in the United States of America by Pantagraph Printing and Stationery Co. FURTHER LIGHT Hale, brothers of the Rule and Line, who work by Truth and Honor's laws; Still striving toward the Light divine, the dayspring of our righteous cause. The cause our ancient seers upbore, in lonely lands through darkest night; Still keeping in their mystic Lore, the prophecy of "Further Light." And further light spread Truth and Love, 'till now the world begins to know The Fatherhood of God, above, the Brotherhood of Man, below. And we, who caught their thought in part — how oft we met, in former time To search for truths their "Royal Art," had woven in the "work" sublime. And oft within the dimmest lore, of ancient writ, we sought and found Some Jewel from their secret store — concealed of old in Holy ground; Concealed for those who sought aright, as that Foundation Stone of yore, "First seen in Heaven" by Holy Light, then centre of the Master's floor. And oft we met in concourse glad, and hail our chosen rulers all. And oft with spirits O how sad, to hear for some the funeral pall, And oft must be, 'till all go, and none shall know that we were here, For what is lost on earth below, is treasured in that higher sphere. So one by one they passed the bourne, whence none returns to earthly light — While we await the hastening morn, which ushers each to "Further Light." H. P. H. Bromwell Grand Master, 1865. Chap. Chap. 37 Rite of Memphis 272 Chap. 38 Lotteries and Gift Enterprises 275 Chap. 39 Grand Lodge Hall 280 Chap. 40 Honorary Members 282 Chap. 41 Veteran Association 284 Chap. 42 King Kaulakana visits Oriental Lodge No. 33 290 Chap. 43 An Old Apron 292 Chap. 44 War Relief Service 294 Chap. 45 Miscellaneous 296 Chap. 46 Membership Statistics 303 Authorities consulted 305 Grand Masters, First Grand Lodge, 1822-1826 307 Grand Masters of Present Grand Lodge, 1840-1951. 317 Index 397 List of Illustrations Facing Page First State House, Kaskaskia 4 Kaskaskia in 1797 8 Last Building in Kaskaskia, 1906 8 First Return of Western Star Lodge, 1806 24 Sword and 1828 Minute Book of Western Star Lodge 32 Desk of Shadrach Bond and Gavel of Western Star Lodge 36 Where Grand Lodge was Organized, 1840 112 Cornerstone at Shawneetown, 1838 190 Royal Arch Memorial Hospital 222 Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home 226-228-230 Illinois Masonic Home 232-234 Stephen A. Douglas Petition for Degrees 240 Apron of Oliver Wolcott 292 Shadrach Bond 309 Shadrach Bond Monument 310 James Hall 311 Rawlins Hotel Where Hall Received Gen. LaFayette 312 Guy William Smith 313 Abraham Jonas 319 Abraham Jonas Monument 320 Creiger Jewel 352 Chapter 1 EXPLANATORY From a lake in Minnesota a small stream starts on its long journey to the sea; so small that a child can cross it. It is joined by others and gradually increases in size as it continues its movement to the south. As it flows onward it absorbs other streams, both great and small until, finally, it becomes the "Mighty Mississippi"—the "Father of Waters" and is perpetuated in song as "Ol' Man River." In like manner Freemasonry came to the Illinois Country. At an early day a lone Mason arrived in Cahokia at a time when he was one of the only two white men who were not French. The French had a few small settlements along the river, five in number, extending from Cahokia to Kaskaskia, a distance of about sixty miles. At no place did these settlements extend more than five miles from the river. All the remainder of what is now Illinois was a primeval wilderness, the habitat of Indians and wild beasts. Tlie noise and bustle of civilization were yet hundreds of miles to the east. The people were busy through the day but the silence of the night was disturbed only by the hoot of the owl and the howl of tlie wolf. Returning soldiers of the Clark army told of the wonderful fertility of the soil and soon bands of emigrants were wending their way to the new Eldorado. Among them were members of the mystic craft. These soon became known to each other by well-known tests. They remem- bered the social enjoyments and fraternal welcome at their lodges and determined to form a lodge to help relieve the hardships of their new life. Only six were found but it was known that a Mason lived at St. Louis. At that time the journey to St. Louis was long and dangerous, but the needed signature was secured, and in due time a lodge was founded at Kaskaskia. For ten years it was the only lodge in the Illinois country, but Shawneetown had become the most important point on the Ohio river below Louisville, Kentucky, and when the requisite number of Masons had arrived another lodge was established. Other lodges soon followed as the stream of Masonry continued to flow 1 2 Freemasonry in Illinois into the country. Finally a Grand Lodge was formed, but this was no "Mighty Mississippi." It was a very small and unimportant organiza- tion but the individuals who composed it were very prominent in the government of the state. On its membership rolls were present and future Governors, United States Senators, Supreme Court Judges and many other state officials. The course of the first Grand Lodge was not like that of the river. There were pitfalls, log jams and stagnant pools to interfere with its steady progress; finally outside influences, together with the necessity of many of its members to find suitable locations where they would have food and clothing, caused the Grand Lodge to close its doors and the little lodges that composed it gradually ceased to exist. But the spirit of Masonry still lived in the hearts and minds of the brethren. Thousands of new settlers were coming into the country; larger and more permanent towns were built. Other lodges came into existence and these have continued to the present time. They organized the second Grand Lodge which grew rapidly until today the mighty Grand Lodge of Illinois sheds its influence over every village and hamlet in the state. The need for preserving the records of the early lodges in the state was recognized in 1858 by the adoption of two resolutions: Resolved, That the materials for a complete history of Masonry in the Territory and State of Illinois, from the organization of the first Lodge therein, together with such biographical sketches and personal incidents as may be worth preserving, ought to be gathered up, and placed in our archives, so that a historical volume may be issued. Resolved, That the Grand Master appoint a suitable person for that service, to be styled the Illinois Masonic Historian, who shall be fully authorized to gather such materials together, and to call to his aid the service of such Masters, Wardens and Secretaries, as may be able to render him any service. All the reasonable expenses of said Historian to be paid by this Grand Lodge. There is no record of the appointment of any such historian, neither is there anything to show that an attempt was made to collect the old records, until in 1868 Grand Master Gorin called attention to the little knowledge that was had of the early lodges and appointed John C. Reynolds to write the history of the first Grand Lodge and "rescue it from oblivion." Right well did he do his work. His history is not written in flowery language with well rounded sentences but consists almost entirely of extracts from the early records which he, fortunately, was able to find. Explanatory 3 Without his history the story of early Masonry in Illinois would have been lost. This is the most valuable book the Grand Lodge ever pub- lished. To Brother Reynolds should go great praise. The Grand Master said: Bro. Reynolds is entitled to the grateful thanks of the Fraternity for his indefatigable and successful labors, in bringing to light much of the history of the old Grand Lodge of Illinois which has been covered with the accumulated rubbish of many years. Enough copies were printed to supply every lodge with one but those books are lu'nety years old, the paper is tender and the binding easily broken. They are not available to the average member so it was thought best to begin this history with the earliest time of Masonic activity in Illinois. The Reynolds history ends with 1850. Nothing has been written since that date. True, John C. Smith published a history in 1903 but it consists only of the proceedings of the first Grand Lodge 1822-27 and a few minutes of the Western Star Lodge in 1828-29. This book is an attempt to cover the many important Masonic events since 1S50 together with what has gone before. Extensive research has been made and many new facts about Western Star Lodge have been foimd together with some other new history. The writer is under lasting obligation to several Masonic students in other jurisdictions for valuable information, especially to Brother W.